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Just 60 days ago when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source of Villa's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six matches, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to answer. History, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the victories have piled up.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the side registered an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.